Metal-bound-box-blank-stapling machine.



E-' CRAIG. METAL BOUND BOX BLANK STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED sum; 16, mo.

1,205,328. Patented Nov, 21, 1916.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 1- 31/ iiwuieyvm I a 1.3mm

E. CRAIG. METAL BOUND 80X BLANK STAPLING MACHiNE. APPLICATION HLED JUNE I6. 1930.

1,205,328. I Patented Nov. 21,1916.

E. CRAIG.

METAL BOUND BOX-BLANK STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED JUNE-I16. Iss0.

1,205,328. Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 3- 5M a 4 I 2 1/ E. cams. METAL BOUND. BOX BLANK STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15. I910;

Patented Nov. 21, 1915.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 4- 1/ Will/5 E. CRAIG.

METAL BOUND BOX BLANK STAFLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man mm: I6, I910.

Patent-ed Nov. 21, 1916 9 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

E. cams. METAL BOUND BOX BLANK STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IIJNE I5 IQIO.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

9 SHEETS SHEET 6.

E. CRAIG. METAL BOUND BOX BKANK STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED JUNE 16. 1510.

' Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

9 SHEETS-SHEET I.

550mm. METAL BOUND BOX BLANK STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 111N516, I910;

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

9 SHE ETS-SHEET 8.

E. CRAIG.

METAL BOUND BOX BLANK STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE i6. 910.

Patented N 0v. 21, 1916.

9 SHEETSSHEET 9.

- the ward secured in place.

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD CRAIG, OF ST. JOSEPH,

MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB. 'ro SARANAG MACHINE 00., on ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN, A oonronn'rron OF MICHIGAN.

METAL-BOUlT D-IBOXBLA NK-STA PLIN G MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Application filed Iune' v16, 1910, Serial No. 567,185.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD CRAIG, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of St. Joseph, Berrien county, Michigan, have invented av certain new and useful. Improvement in Metal-Bound-Box-' Blank-stapling Machines, of which the following is a specification. invention relates to machinery 'for making metal bound box blanks.

It relates more especially to the manufacture of metalbound boxes having sheet metal binding along the edges of the blank, said bindi'ng'having a flange by means I 9 is a rear elevation of the lower the mechanism shown in Fig. 7

of which the endwalls of the box areafter- My invention contemplates, broadly, a machine that is operative todrive staples through the sheet metal binding to fasten the same to the different sections of the.

blank, and which will clench the staples upon the lower or inner surface of the sheet material, whereby each staple through the. veneer of the blank and one thickness of'the metal binding. It also con--= templates a machine for this purpose wh ch will, in-addition to driving staples through the sheet metal binding along the edges of the blank, insert flat staples to connect to- .gether the edges of the different sections of the blank, which fiat staples thereby serve as fiexible' l1inges when the blank is folded, and prevent the corners ofthe box from opening.

It 'is also an object of my invention, in

addition to the above, to provide an im- 'proved feed mechanism forieeding the wire for the staples; to provide means whereby the mechanism which feeds the flat, wire that 1s to say, the wire from which the flat staples are madeniay be controlled at will to prevent driving of such staples at points i where. they are-not needed; to provide an improved reversible clench-hlock arrange ment, which is adapted to be controlled at will to clench either prong or point of the staple; leaving theotlier prong or point unelenched: to provide a rubber or other yielding elench-block which will support a staple while it is being driven, but which will pre-.

vent clenching thereof; and to provide certain (letails and features of iml'irovement and combinations tending to increase the general etliciency of a machine of this particular character.

' 1' is a side elevation of a box blank said machine.

- Fig. 2. Fig.

extends my invention consists in matters hereinafter set-forth and claimed.

- In the accompanying drawingsFi ure Step s machine embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the Fig. 3 is a plan of the same. Fig. 4c is a vertical section on line 4-4 in 5 "is anenlarged section online 5,-5 in Fig. 2. tion on line 66 in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a plan' of the mechanism shownv in Fig. Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line 88 in Fig. 7; Fig. portion of Fig. 10 is a plant view, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6.- Fig. 1.1 is 'a vertical section on line 11-11 in Figplt). Fig. 12 is a rear elevation of the lower-portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view Fig. 6 is an enlarged sec of the reversible clench-blockmechanism. Fig. 14 is a perspective of ajineta'l bound boir blank of the kind manufactured by my improved machine. Fig. 15 is an enlarged section through a portion of said box blank, showing the staple inserted through the upper layer of the sheet-metal binding, and clenched on the lower layer of said binding, whereby the staple extends only through the upper layer ofthe binding blank is engaged by the guides to keep the blank moving in a straight direction. I As thus illustrated, my invention comprises a base A, upon which are mounted the vertical side members B of the frame. These side members are connected at their upper ends by means of a cross bar or memher I) and at a point below the same by a stationary bar or cross head 7). The recip-v roca'ting head C is of the usual form or construction, and isarranged to slide up and down in guide-Ways provided in the meinbers B, being actuated by pitmen 0 which are connected with cams on the drive shaft D. The said shaft is operated and controlled in any suitable manner. A table E is supported upon the members B, being adjustable up and down, and is provided with the horizontal and parallel guides e which extend longitudinally of the machine. Between these guides, clench-blocks F are provided and mounted upon the table E, being adjustable upon the latter, whereby the width of the blank may be varied at will. The staplers G are mounted above the guides e, and are adapted to drive staples made from round wire. The staplers I l are mounted above the clench blocks F. and are adapted to drive flat staplesthat is to say. sta les made from flat wire, or from flat strlps of sheet metal. All of said staplers are mounted upon the stationary cross head I), and are operated by the vertically reciprocating cross head C, in the usualland well known manner. The distance between the said staplers can be varied at will, depending upon the width desired for the blanks. The blank to be made by this machine is shown in Fig 14. It comprises four flexibly connected sections consisting of strips of veneer 1, :2, 3, ek which have their edges slightly spaced apart, and which are connected by the sheet metal binding I. This binding, t will be seen, is folded upon and displacement thereof.

around the side edges of the said blank, {so as to provide upper and lower layers 2', '1", which latter has a downwardly or inwardly extending flange '1, which flange is adapted to be stapled to the end walls of the box, in the well known manner. The said binding is provided with notches if at points opposite the space between the edges of the veneer, whereby the blank can be easily folded around the end walls of the box. The sections of the blankare also connected by means of the staples J. which latter straddle the cracks or spaces between the edges ol the veneer. thus serving as hinges when the blank is folded, and preventing the corners of the box from gaping. The flat staples j, at one end of the blank, are left with their outer points )r n'ongs unbent, wherebythey may beinserted through the o'her edge of the blank when the latter is folded to close the box.

As shown in Fig. 17. the binding I is engaged by the guide 0, the latter being in the nature of a T-iron which presents one side or channel thereof to the folded edge 'portion of the sheet. metal binding, thus supporting the blank and preventing sidewise ment prevents distortion of the flanges if of the binding, as no weight or pressure is imposed on these flanges during the stapling operations. The staplers G drive the staples 7 .h' through the heet metal binding and into Also the arrangethe veneer of the blank, as shown in Fig. 17. the prongs or points of said staples being clenched or bent upon the lower thickness i of the said binding.

The staplers G are of the ordinary and well known character, and may be of any suitable construction, except for the provision of the finger 9 that extends between the points of the staple to prevent the latter from being deflected toward each other when they strike the metal of the binding. The said stapler comprises, therefore, as shown in Fig. 11,'a driver 9 secured to the cross head C, a staple former and a loop bar y, which coiiperate to form and drive. the staple in the usual and well known manner. The staple former g has the finger y pivotally secured thereto, which finger is connected by a rod and spring g with the cross head C, whereby the said staple former is subject to spring pressure to permitdt to cease moving downward when it strikes the work. A latch is provided for locking the staple former to the staple driver, and acam 1" serves to operate said latch and thereby release the staple former and permit the staple driver to continue the downward motion alonethat is to say. without moving the staple former after the latter strikes the work. This is all well known and well understood, and the finger g constitutes the only special provision, as this is necessary in view of the fact that the staples are driven through a layer of sheet metal.

\Vere it not for this finger. which is automatieally inserted between the points of the staple at-the proper time, by the. pressure of the spring 9, the said staple might not puncture the metal, and would be liable to be deflected. The said finger, however, keeps the points of the staple from being clenched or bent toward each other, and compels the same to puncture the metal and pass through the veneer of the blank. Then the staple points are bent upon the lower or inner thickness of the metal binding, as shown in Fig. 15. I

The staplers ll are of similar construction. as shown in Fig. 5, except that they do not involve the finger g of the other staplers. These staplers ll areadapted to drive the wide. flat staples J, i, and are actuated by the cross head 7), all four staplers being operated simultaneously.

l'lach stapler G has a feed mechanism consisting of feed rolls L which are geared together, as shown in Fig. 6. A rock shaft M is mounted just back of the staplers and extends through the upper or larger of the feed rolls L, being supported in bracket bearings m on the. frame. The said shaft is provided with loose ratchet wheels l, and with crank arms I which are keyed thereto, and which are provided with dogs I which engage the said ratchet wheels. The rock shaft M is operated by a suitable connection N with the drive shaft D, in the usual and well known manner, whereby the sha-ft is intermittently fed to the staplers G and the staples K are formed and driven.

The staplers H are each provided with feed mechanism of the kind shown in Fig. 5. Each feed mechanism comprises upper and lower feed rolls P, which are gearconnected together the upper or larger roll being loosely mounted on the shaft M. The ratchet .Wheel Q, comprised in each feed mechanism, is rigid with the upper roll, but loose on the shaft. The arms R are rigidly secured to said shaft M and are each provent the staplers H from driving the staples.

The cams or throw-outs S are connected by llnks s with the crank arms 8 on a rock shaft '8 whereby the said cams or throw outs can be adjusted at will to prevent feeding of the flat wire and to thereby prevent driving of the flat staples. .The shaft 8 is provided with a handle 8", which is connected by a spring. 8* with the frame, said handle being adapted to work between the stops 5-, s, and held in normal position by the said spring. T staplers H will drive the said staples, under normalconditions;

thus prevented from being fed, noflat but when the operator throws the handle s upward against the tensionof the spring 8", the dogs 1* are prevented from actuating the ratchet wheels, and as the flat wire is staples are driven. ln'Fig. 5 the mechanism is shown in condition for feeding the fiat wire, but in Fig. 1 the handle s is shown in [its raised position, whereby the dogs 1' are thrown out of engagement with the ratchet wheels Q, thus preventing a feeding of the flat wire In this way the flat staples are driven where needed, and during the passa e of intermediate portions of the blank no tiat staples are driven, notwithstanding that all four staplers are actuated each. time he cross head C moves downward. In other words, the operator controls the staplers H to drive the flat staples at the edges of the," veneer, but notat points intermediate sucl" 1 of the blank 1n ahnement with the pointer edges.

The staplers H are each provided within clenclrblock F, as'previously stated. e

clench-blocks are for clenchingthe points of the staples J, Each clench-block mecha{ nism comprisesa metal block f of a char acter to bend or deflect the point of the tion of onewill be sufficient. The mechanism thereof is shown in Fig. 13. These.

staple, and a rubberblock' 7 associated therewith. There is also another metal block f for the other point of the staple, and another rubber block f which is allotted thereto. The blocks f, f, are movable with the reciprocating rod f*,and the blocks 7, f are movable with the rod f. The tworods, are controlled by a hand lever f", and both rods are subject to spring tension tending normally to shift them tothe left, as by means of springs 7", as shown in Fig. 2.

WVhn the hand lever f" is, in the position shown in Fig. 13, then the metal blocks f, f are opposite each other and both points of the staple will be clenched. Obviously, however, only one point of the staple j must be clenched, the other point being left un- This is accomplished by moving the bent. hand lever f to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 13. block f opposite the metal block f,'and as the rubber will not clench-the staplefonc point thereof left unbent, as shown 'in Fig. 14. If the staples j are to be applied to the other end of the blank, then the hand This brings the rubber lever f is operated to shift the rubber block f into a position opposite the metal block f so that one end of the'staple is clenched and the other left unbent, in the manner already described. These staples can be driven at,

The rubber blocks f,' f

clenching or bending thereof. It is obvious that various yieldingsupports or 'clench block arrangements can be employed without departing fromthe spirit of my invention. I I

In the case of the staples H, as shown in Fig. 8, the loop bars T are provided with pointers or indicators 't to enable the operator to-pmperly position the blank to receive the staples J, j. When the blank is'so adjusted that this pointer 15 is above the crack or slight space between the edge of the veneer, it is then in proper position to receive the staples J. Thus it is only neces-- saryto bring the space between the section or indicator :5 in order to properly locate the staples J. The staples j are located in a similar manner by pushing thebla'nk along until its edge is just a little beyond the pointer or indi ator z, in a manner that will be readily understood.

The table E is raised and lowered by the hand wheel a and screw 0' through the medium of any suitable means. The gage c" on the machine will show the. proper height for the table.

I do not limit. myself to the exact construction shown and described. Broadly considered. my invention contennvlates the driving of the staples through the sheet metal of the binding of a blank of this particular character. and the clenching of the staples on the lower or inner thickness of the binding. in the manner described. Prior to'my invent-ion. no machine had ever been proposed or constructed to drive staples through the metal of this binding and into the blank to secure the same thereto. No machine, of course. had ever been proposed or used which would not only staple the sheet metal to the blank, but which would also drive the flat staples to secure the edges of the blank together at thecorners of the box. My invention is a pioneer in this and other respects. as will be readily understood.

'hat- I claim as my invention is:

1. Iaa stapling machine. a plurality of staplers. feed mecl'lanisms therefor adapted to feed round wire to some staplers and flat wire t other staplers, means for operating said staplers simultaneously. means for operating the said feed mechanisms simultaneously. including a rock shaft that extends through all of said mechanisms, and devices for acting on the mechanisms for feeding the flat wire to prevent at will the operation thereof. witl\out interfe'ing with the feeding of the round wire by the other mechanisms on said shaft. 7

In a stapling machine. a plurality of fecd'mcchanisms for feeding the material from which the staples are made, a rock shaft for operating said mechanisms. a second rock shaft, mcansoperated by the second rock shaft to prevent at will the operation of one or more of said mechanisms. and means for manually operating said second rock shaft.

3. 111 a stapling machine. mechanism for clenching one prong or point of the staple without clenching the other, and means for controlling said mechanism to clench both points.

i. In a stapling machine. means for clenching one prong or point of the staple, and a rubber block that supports the other prong or point and yields to prevent clenching thereof.

5. in a stapling machine. mechanism for clenching only one point of the staple. and means for reversingsaid mechanism. whereby either point can be clenched.

6. In a stapling machine, means to; clenching one point of the staple, and a yielding support for the other point, to prevent clenching thereof.

7. In a metal bound blank stapling machine, means operative for stapling the sheet metal to the blank. along the edges thereof, means for applying fiat staples to serve as hinges between the sections of the blank, and controlling means whereby the flat staples are properly located.

8. machine for making box blanks having sheet material to fornrthe sides of the box. and having sheet-metal binding extending lengthwise on the outer surface of the blank to flexibly connect together the sections along the side edges thereof, with rightangle inner flanges of said binding in position for stapling to box-heads after the blank is finished. comprising means for enaging said binding to hold the blank against displacement. (.OtlStlllCtGtl and arranged to support the blank without weight g on said flanges. mechanism for inserting staples :through the binding and the. sheet material. and means to cause the clenching of the staples on the inner surface of the sheet material at one side of said flanges.

9. A machine for making box blanks having sheet ma'terialto form the sides of the box, and having sheet-metal binding extending lengthwise on the outer surface of the blank to flexibly connect together the sections along the side, edges theneof, with right-angle inner flanges ofsaid binding in position for stapling to box-heads after the blank is finished. comprising means'forem' gaging said binding to hold the blank against displacement, constructed and arranged to support the blank withont'weight on said flanges, mechanism for inserting staples through the binding and the sheet materiaL said means including parallel Sta tionary guides which engage theunder-side of said binding. and means to cause the clenching of the staples on the inner surface of the sheet material at one side'of said flanges;

'10. A machineQfor making box blanks having sheet material toform the sidcs of the box. and having sheet-metal binding ex- Y tending lengtlnvise on the outer surfaceof the blank to iltX1l)l connect together the sections along the side edges thereof. with' right-angle inner flanges of said binding in position for stapling to box-heads after the blank is finished. comprising means for engaging said binding to hold the blank againstdisplacement."constructed and arranged to support the blankwithont weight on said flanges. mt-claiaismf for inserting staples through the binding and the sheetmatcrial. said mechanism"including staplers having means to insert the staples through the binding, and means to cause the clenching of the staples on the inner surface of the sheet material atone side of said flanges.

11. A machine for making box blanks having sheet material to form the sides of the box, and having sheet-metal binding extending lengthwise on the outer surface of the blank to flexibly connect together the sections along the side edges thereof, with fight-angle inner flanges of said binding in position for stapling to box-heads after the blank is finished, comprising means for engaging said binding to hold the blank against displacement, constructed and arranged to support the blank without weight on said flanges, mechanism for inserting staples through the binding and the sheet material, said means having portions to solidly support the binding and thereby adapt the said portions to be utilized as clench blocks for the staples, and means to cause the clenching of the staples on the inner surface of the sheet material at one side of said flanges.

12. A ma chine for making box blanks having sheet material to form the sides of the nect the sections of the blank, a recipro- '35 eating member for operating said mecha-- nism and devices, and means to control said devices at will and without interfering with said mechanism.

13. A machine for making box blanks having sheet material to form the sides of the box, and having metal binding extending lengthwise of the blank to flexibly connect together the sections thereof, comprising means for engaging said binding to hold the blank against displacement, mechanism for stapling the binding to the sheet material, devices for applying flexible hinges to the blank, and means for gaging the position of the blank to receive said hinges.

14. Amachinc for making box blanks having sheet material to form the sides of the box, and having metal binding extending lengthwise on the outer surface of the blank to flexibly connect together the sections thereof, with right-angle inner flanges of said binding in position for stapling to boxheads after the blank is finished, comprising blank against displacement, constructed and arranged to support the blank Without weight on said flanges, mechanism for stapling the binding to the sheet material, said mechanism being arranged to drive the staples with their heads extending longituside of said flanges. means for engaging said binding to hold the dinally of said binding at one side of the vertical planes of said flanges.

15. A machine for making b0X-blanks by stapling sheet-metal binding to sheet material along the side edges of the blank, to flexibly connect together the sections of the blank, with the right-angle inner flanges of said binding in position for stapling to boxheads after the blank is finished, comprising staplers capable of driving staples through said binding into said sheet material, and means for so guiding the blank under said staplers that the staples are driven at one side of the vertical planes of said flanges, said means being so constructed and arranged that said flanges are not subject topressure by said staplers, thereby to prevent distortion of said flanges.

16. A machine for making box-blanks by stapling sheet-metal binding to sheet material along the side edges of the blank, to

flexibly connect together the sections of the blank, with the right-angle inner flanges of said binding in position for stapling to boxheads after the blank is finished, comprising staplers capable of driving staples through said binding into said sheet material, and means for so guiding the blank under said staplers that the staples are driven at one side of the vertical planes of said flanges, said means being so constructedand arranged that said flanges are not subject to pressure by said staplers, thereby to prevent distortion of said flanges, and said means having, portions which engage the binding to prevent lateral displacement thelreof from the edges of the sheet materia 17. A machine for making box-blanks by stapling sheet-metal binding to sheet material along the side edges of the blank, to flexibly connect together the sections of the blank, with the right-angle inner flanges of said binding in position for stapling to b0xheads after the blank is finished, comprising staplers capable of driving staples through said binding into said sheet material, means for so guiding the blank under said staplers that the staples are driven at one side of the vertical planes of said 'flanges, said means being so constructed and prising staplers capable of driving staples through said binding into said sheet material, means for so guiding the blank under said staplers that the staples are driven at one side of the vertical planes of said flanges, said means being so constructed and arranged that said flanges are not subject to pressure by said staplers, thereby to prevent distortion 0' said flanges, and devices to apply flexible connections between the sections of the blank along a line or lines between said binding.

19. A machine for making box-blanks by stapling sheet-metal binding to sheet material along-the side edges of the blank, to

flexibly connect together the sections of the blank, with the right angle inner flanges of, said binding inposition for stapling to box-heads after the blank is finished, comprising staplers capable of driving staples through said binding into said sheet material, and means for so guiding the blank under said staplers that the staples are driven at one side of the vertical planes of said flanges, said means being so constructed and arranged that saidflanges are not ,subject to pressure by said staplers, thereby to prevent distortion of said flanges, said means engaging the binding outside of said flanges I Signed by me at St. Joseph, Mich, this 31st day of May 1910.

EDWARD CRAIG.

Witnesses:

Ennswoirrn Lama,

\VILLIAM H. RAY. 

